Related News

Pirates, Assassins, and Cutthroat Politics Make Up Next GW2 Update

ArenaNet teases new details and the cutthroat business of politics in Guild Wars 2s next update launching on July 23rd.

Guild Wars 2Âs Living Story continues to evolve next week with the Cutthroat Politics update. The new story will follow the attempts of war hero Ellen Kiel and the prominent merchant Evon GnashbladeÂs attempts to fill the council seat in the aftermath of the assassination in the Sky Pirates of Tyria update. Players will have a hand in deciding who will fill the vacant council spot by using support tokens and coins to aid their candidate of choice after the update launches on July 23rd until it ends on August 5th.

Along with a new politically charged story, the update will also bring new content with the PvP Aspect Arena, Candidate Trials, and the new Southsun Survival event, a scavenger hunt that pits players against each other armed with only a bow.

What candidate will you support? Check out the two campaign videos below that clearly parody the laughably bad political ads we have here in the US and visit the update page for more.

Guild Wars 2: Cutthroat Politics launches on Tuesday, July 23rd.

Guild Wars 2Â® Cutthroat Politics

Latest update to Living World to be impacted by player vote

SEATTLE Â July 16, 2013: ArenaNet today announced that the latest Guild Wars 2 content update, Cutthroat Politics, live July 23, will feature permanent changes to the world based on player votes. The update is the second since ArenaNet officially confirmed its move to a two-week update cadence earlier this month and stands as the most recent example of how the studio is delivering players new and exciting content creating a real living world experience at a pace unmatched by any Western competitor.

In Cutthroat Politics, players will have the opportunity to support one of two candidates vying for a vacant seat on the CaptainÂs Council of LionÂs Arch. Ellen Kiel, a war hero, and Evon Gnashblade, a prominent merchant, both believe they have what it takes to sit on the powerful ruling council and strike a lucrative trade agreement with the merchants of the Zephyr Sanctum. But players will ultimately decide, using support tokens and coins to further the cause of their favorite candidate between July 23 and Aug. 5. Check out their individual ad campaigns at https://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/releases/.

The unique, player-driven outcome of this update will have a lasting impact on the Living World. Players will also experience other new events, rewards and features in the release, including:

New Events

Southsun Survival: Armed with only a bow and whatever supplies they can scavenge, players will face off against each other in a battle to be the last one standing. Karma, coins and the chance to receive an exclusive Back Item also are at stake in this new competitive activity.

Aspect Arena: Players can pick one of the Aspects of Lightning, Sun, or Wind and face off in teams to collect crystals in a new PvP activity. Each Aspect grants different skills with which to maneuver and fight.

Candidate Trials: Players can test their battle skills alone or with a group in support of their chosen candidate by taking on waves of Aetherblade pirates. Support tokens and loot Â even a rare chance at an Aetherized weapon Â will be granted to those who can hold out.

Â New Rewards

Exclusive Back Items: The Desert Rose and Zephyr Rucksack will be available as rare drops from the Southsun Survival and Aspect Arena activities, respectively.

Catapult Mastery: Investing points in this new World vs. World ability line will increase damage done to walls, inflict extra damage against other siege weapons, increase the attack radius and unlock a new skill.